Article on Lyme disease sounds a vital alert

Thank you for the recent article on Lyme disease (“Parasite packs big bite: Tick-inflicted Lyme disease can leave a lasting mark for the unlucky few,” June 26).

Following weeks of painful and swollen joints, our son, Scott, was misdiagnosed in 1996 as having juvenile-onset rheumatoid arthritis. Were it not for the quick thinking of Dr. Bruce Dreyfuss, an adult rheumatologist, we would not have suspected Lyme.

Because the disease was nearly unheard of in this area 17 years ago, Scott’s pediatrician did not automatically test for it. Even when the initial tests came back positive, the results were suspected to be false. A second test confirmed the Lyme diagnosis, and Scott received megadoses of antibiotics to combat the disease.

We were relatively lucky, as the fallout from the delayed diagnosis did not cause much permanent damage, although there is some question as to whether the Lyme disease may have contributed to his Hodgkin’s lymphoma 10 years later.

In any event, it is good news that local doctors now check for Lyme disease as a possible cause when any of the symptoms are present. Scott did not show the bull’s-eye rash either. Vigilance is key.

Rebecca Hayman

Los Altos

Don’t disturb our lives with trail extension

People need to understand that the Stevens Creek Trail is supposed to be a route through open space. When Los Altos officials decided decades ago to allow development of the Grant Road-Fremont Avenue area, they closed the option for a trail here. Except for demolishing homes to re-create open space, the only choice is to go around the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, the trail committee is still considering inserting bicycle lanes through our area. Residents are faced with an increase in traffic, pollution, noise, parking problems, burglaries and loss of privacy when thousands of visitors traverse our otherwise quiet streets.

There is no justification for such disturbance of our lives.

Arthur J. Abrams

Los Altos

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